Picket shaping machine



Feb. 19, 1952 H. PETERSON PICKET SHAPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Shee t 1 Filed June 13, 1949 n W a b m o A e M. w

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PICKET SHAPING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ventor Herbert L. Peterson Feb. 19, 1952 L. I5ETERSON PICKET SHAPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 13, 1949 Herbert L. Peterson Patented Feb. 19,1952

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- PICKET SHAPING MACHINE Herbert L. Peterson, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 13, 1949, Serial No. 98,819

.tangular cross-section into pickets of substantially semi-circular cross-section, while another feature of the invention involves the provision of means for performing the shaping operation in such manner that the finished picket is tapered in width as well as in thickness, as aforesaid.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its automatic operation, and in its adaptability to shape pickets with considerable speed and accuracy.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may'become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially-of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of theline 4-4 in Figure 2.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a picket shaping machine designated generally by the reference character In, the same embodying in its construction a suitable frame l2 including a pair of spaced upwardly extending side members 14 which straddle a horizontally elongated bed l6 extending in oppositedirections from the frame l2, as is best shown in Figure 1.

The bed It simply consists of a pair of spaced parallel ways l8 connected together by a series of transverse struts (see Figure 2), and what may be referred to as a horizontally elongated picket receiving platen 22 is reciprocable on the ways N3 of the bed 16, more particularly .on an intermediate portion of the bed which is straddled by the side members l4 of the frame l2.

Reciprocation of the platen 22 is effected by means of a pinion 24 secured to a transverse shaft 26 journalled in the ways 18 and engaging a toothed rack 28 secured to the underside of the platen, the shaft 26 also carrying a sprocket 30 which is operatively connected by a chain 32 to a further sprocket (not shown) secured to a shaft 34 of a gear boz: 36 driven by an electric motor 38. The gear box36 is so arranged -that unidirectional rotation .of the motor 38 is converted into alternate clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 3%, so that reciprocating movement may be imparted to the platen 22, as aforesaid.

An arbor 40 is rotatably journalled in suitable bearings .42 provided on the side pieces 14 of theframe l2 and extends transversely of the bed Hi, this arbor carrying a pair of coacting picket shaping tools 44 which are slidable on the arbor toward and away from each other, but are connected for simultaneous rotation with the arbor by means of suitable keys 46 with which the arbor is provided.

Each of the tools 44 preferably consists of a polygonal .blockor body 48 having a cutting blade 50 secured to each .side thereof, the two tools preferably being keyed to the arbor in such nanher that the blades 50 thereof are staggered so that they do not interfere with one another when the tools are slid together.

It is to be also noted that the blades '50 have complementaryarcuated cutting edges 52 which are intended 'to engage the picket stock and eventually produce a picket having a substantially semi-circular cross-section, as indicated at '54 in Figure 4.

The tools 44 are, of course, intended to engage and shape a picket stock lying on the platen 22, the stock originally being rectangular in crosssection and being shaped to the substantially semi-circular cross-section by the tools, as the platen 22 slides along the bed [6. Moreover, it is to be noted that a picket support 56 is secured to the platen and constitutes a component thereof, this support being longitudinally tapered so that when a picket stock is positioned thereon and the platen is slid past the tools 44 to :shape the picket, the finished product will be tapered in thickness longitudinally, that is, from what is intended to be its lower to itsupper end.

Moreover, means are provided for tapering the picket in width from its lower to its upper end, th se m ans nvo v g th s ida le pos io ng of the tools 44 on the arbor 40, whereby at the commencemen of he shaping operation the two tools 44 may be remotely disposed-but are gradually brought together while the shaping opera tion is .in progress, thus resulting ina tapering widthof the'iinished picket.

The means for sliding the tools 44 together on the arbor 40 are responsive to the sliding movement of the platen 22 on the bed l6 and consist of a pair of mutually convergent guide rails 58 which are secured to the platen 22 and have upper longitudinal edge portions slidably disposed between spaced pieces of a pair of guide members 60, as is best shown in Figure 4. These guide'members, in turn, are mounted upon annular clamping members 62, 64 containing a set of anti-friction bearings 66 therebetween, each set of these hearings, in turn, beingpositioned on an adapter 68 formed integrally with the body 48 of the tools 44.

If desired, suitable adjusting nuts may be provided on the adapters or bosses 68 of the tool bodies 48 to facilitate adjustment of the bearings 66, and it will be observed from the foregoing that notwithstanding the rotation of the tools 44, the clamping members 62, 64 together with the guide members 58 will remain stationary, by virtue of the engagement of the guide members 68 with the guide rails 58 as aforesaid. Moreover, as the platen 22 is reciprocated on the bed IE, the convergent guide rails 58 engaging the guide members 60 will cause the tools 44 to slide toward and away from each other on the arbor 40. In other words, when the platen is slid on the bed id in one direction during the shaping operation of the picket stock, the tools 44 which are initially remotely disposed, will be gradually brought together, so that the finished picket will be tapered in width from one end to the other.

, Needless to say, when the platen 22 is returned to its initial position, the guide rails 58 will cause the tools 44 to be drawn apart, in readiness for the performance of the next shaping operation.

It may be explained at this point that the tools 44 are rotated by means of a pulley 12 secured to the arbor 40 and connected by a belt 14 to a pulley 16 on the armature of an additional electric motor 18, this drive being such that rotation is imparted to the tools notwithstanding their sliding movement on the arbor.

Finally, means are provided for guiding and stabilizing picket stock on the platen 22, the guiding means involving the provision of a pair of picket engaging rollers 80, 82, the former being carried upon a shaft 84 supported by a pair of arms 86 which are pivotally connected to suitable brackets 88 attached to the bed I6. Suitable tension springs 90 are connected to the arms 86 for urging the roller 80 in engagement with a picket on the platen 22 as will be clearly apparent. Similarly, the roller-82 is carried by a pair of arms 92 pivoted to struts 94 on the side pieces M of the frame i2, suitable compression springs 96 engaging the arms 92 so as to urge the roller 82 in engagement with the picket.

The picket stabilizing means involves the provision of a stop block 98 secured to the member 56 of the platen 22 and provided with a plurality of pointed picket-engaging prongs I00, while a suitable stabilizing bracket or rest H12 is secured to one of the frame side pieces [4 and is adapted to engage one longitudinal edge of the picket stock (see Figure 2), so that assurance is had when the picket stock is engaged with the bracket [02 and with the stop block 98, that the picket is properly aligned in readiness for the shaping operation.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a picket shaping machine, the combination of a substantially horizontal bed, a frame provided intermediate the ends of said bed, an elongated picket-receiving platen reciprocable on said bed, a rotatable arbor journalled in said frame transversely of said bed, a pair of coactingpicket shaping tools positioned on said arbor for rotation therewith, said tools being slidable on said arbor toward and away from each other, a pair of mutually convergent guide rails extending longitudinally on said platen, a pair of guide members slidabl engaging said rails and provided with bearings to rotatably receive said tools whereby the latter may be slid on said arbor by reciprocation of said platen, means for reciprocating said platen, and additional means for rotating said arbor.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with an inclined picket support extending longitudinally on said platen.

3. In a picket shaping machine, the combination of a bed, an elongated picket-receiving platen reciprocable on said bed, a rotatable arbor extending transversely of said bed, a pair of coacting picket shaping tools positioned on said arbor for rotation therewith, said tools being slidable onv said arbor toward and away from each other, and means responsive to reciprocation of said platen for slidin said tools, said means including a pair of mutually convergent guide rails provided on said platen, and means on each of said tools for operatively engaging one of said guide rails.

4. In a picket shaping machine, the combination of a bed, an elongated picket-receiving platen reciprocable on said bed, a rotatable arbor extending transversely of said bed, a pair of coacting picket shapingtools positioned on'said arbor for rotation therewith, said tools being slidable on said arbor toward and away from each other,. and means responsive to reciprocation of said platen for sliding said tools, said means including a pair of mutually convergent guide rails provided on said platen, and means on each of said tools for operatively engaging one of said guide rails, said last mentioned means including guide members slidably engaging said guide rails and provided with bearings to rotatably receive said tools.

HERBERT L. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 4,109 Boynton Aug. 30, 1870 13,408 Van Anden Aug. 7, 1855 2,500,735 Banninger Mar. 14, 1950' 

